1. The petitioners are the President and members of the Travancore Devaswom Board, who have been arrayed as accused persons 3, 4 and 5 in S.T.No,175 of 1997 on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Ranni, a case instituted on a complaint by the second respondent, the Food Inspector, Ranni-Perinad Panchayat, Pathanamthitta Cirle alleging an offence under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

2. On 8.1.1997 at about 4 p.m. the second respondent Food Inspector, Ranni Peinad Panchayat, Pathanamthitta Circle inspected the Devaswom premises in Sabarimala. He found four tanks of Ghee stored for preparation of Appam and aravana. The Store Superintendent of the Devaswom, named as first accused in the case, told the Food Inspector that the ghee was kept in the tank after completing the final purification process and was ready for supply. The Food Inspector asked for 450 ml. of ghee from the Superintendent and obtained on pay of Rs.45 as its cost and issued cash receipt for the purpose and divided the ghee into three portions packed and sealed it as per rules and sent one sample to the Public Analyst. On receipt of a report that the sample does not conform to the standards